Beyond Blunderdome Written by Mike Scully
Directed by Steven Dean Moore
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Production code: AABF23 Original Airdate on FOX: 26-Sep-1999
Capsule revision B (13-Mar-2000)
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> "TV Guide" Synopsis
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(Canadian): At a screening of his new movie, Mel Gibson takes Homer's
critical opinions to heart and offers to fly the Simpsons to Hollywood
where he asks the Ebert-in training to review a re-edited version of his
film. {hl}
==============================================================================
> Title sequence
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Blackboard: FRIDAYS ARE NOT \ "PANTS OPTIONAL"
Couch: The Simpsons, drawn as they were in the Ullman era, sit on the
couch. Suddenly, they are joined by ... the Simpsons, drawn
as they are today. Confronted with one another, the two sides
scream and run away.
==============================================================================
> Did You Notice...
==============================================================================
... we can see movie posters for "Space Mutants XII" and "McBane [sic] VI"
in the theater lobby?
Don Del Grande:
... Maggie sits in the back seat?
... the plane managed to land without taking out any mailboxes?
Joe Green:
... "She's Having a Baby ... Again"?
Richard E. Green:
... Capt. McAllister on the pier?
... the "Braveheart" poster in the editing room?
Tony Hill:
... the divers sink but the car's other victims float?
... the comic book guy's mouse ball bouncing?
... it was Wiggum who started the rush on Gibson?
... Marge wears her wedding ring on her "middle" finger?
... [the President] arriving at the West Front of the Capitol unescorted?
... the comic book guy has switched to a portable computer?
Darrel Jones:
... Lulu Van Houten sits behind Homer at the screenplay?
... when Homer and Marge leave the screenplay, we can see Apu, Manjula and
Sanjay talking?
Joe Klemm:
... Maggie is temporary shaken off the couch when the plane lands next to
the Simpsons' house?
Haynes Lee:
... this is the first audible flatulence?
... this is the first celebrity mooning?
Adam Long:
... Homer refers to Earth as "your planet?"
... Luann Van Houten and Pyro are still together?
... Mel comes to OFF's door with that celebrity "fake-smile," much like
Troy McClure's?
... Marge rubs her wrist after Homer grabs it?
... John Travolta's jet has a horn?
... Anne Heche isn't wearing shoes?
... the ominous versions of "You're a Grand Old Flag" and "Hail to the
Chief" in the new ending?
Patrick McGovern:
... Homer is apparently a member of the press in the movie?
... the cars in the museum all seemed to still be functional? (Alright,
THIS is nitpicking)
Tom Rinschler:
... an incredibly large amount of scenes with Maggie? (it seemed she
appeared more in this episode then all of last season!)
Benjamin Robinson:
... Homer goes to church once a week, and he likes to (try to) fix things
around the house, so he's two-thirds of the way to being Mel Gibson?
Evan Ross:
... Mayor Quimby leaves the movie with a woman other than his wife?
... when Mel Gibson says "Love thy Neighbor", Rev. Lovejoy appears next to
Homer?
... Krusty can be seen in the opening shot of the audience?
... all the lamps in Homer and Marge's bedroom are exactly the same?
Mike Smith:
... it's the first episode written by Mike Scully since "Lisa's Date With
Destiny" (4F01)?
... Maggie Roswell still with us (Hopefully, not for long -- I hope)?
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> Voice Credits
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- Starring
- Dan Castellaneta (Homer, Krusty, Quimby, Payne)
- Julie Kavner (Marge)
- Nancy Cartwright (Bart)
- Yeardley Smith (Lisa)
- Hank Azaria (Car, Comic Book Guy, Professor Frink, Dr. Nick, Moe, Chief
Wiggum)
- Harry Shearer (Announcer, William Milo, Ned Flanders, Burns, Guide,
"Highly unorthodox" senator, President, McBain, Adam West, Burt Ward)
- Special Guest Voice
- Mel Gibson (Himself)
- Jack Burns (Edward Christian)
- Marcia Wallace (Edna Krabappel)
- Also Starring
- Pamela Hayden (Irene Ryan [?])
- Tress MacNeille (Robin Hannah, Anne Heche [?], Woman guide)
- Maggie Roswell (Saleswoman, Ellen Degeneres [?], Jimmy Stewart's
daughter)
- Karl Wiedergott (John Travolta [?])
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> Movie (and other) references
==============================================================================
+ "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome" (movie)
- episode title spoofs this movie, which starred Mel Gibson
- Mad Max's car turns up in the Auto Museum
- same type car chase [This also works as a "Road Warrior" reference --
Ed.]
+ "casual Fridays" business practice {tr}
- blackboard gag refers to this [See "Comments" section for more]
+ "The Tracey Ullman Show" (TV show) {ms}
- the Simpsons meet their Ullman-era counterparts in the couch gag
+ Ford Taurus (car)
- the Elec-Taurus has a similar name
+ GM EV-1 {ah}
- the Elec-Taurus has a similar body
~ "Knight Rider" (TV show) {ddg}
- a talking car appears
- Harry Jay Knowles (Ain't It Cool News) {sa}
- the internet spy thrown out of the test screening and who reports
"Worst ending ever" to the internet bears a resemblance to Harry
Knowles
+ "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (movie) {tr} 2
- Gibson and Simpson make a hyper-violent version of this movie
+ Burns and Schreiber (comedy team from the 60s and 70s) {blm}
- the executive and his underling's rapid exchange of "Huh?" "Yeah" is
one of this team's bits
- [Dean Humphries notes the executive was Jack Burns himself. See
"Comment" section for more -- Ed.]
+ "Batman" (TV series) {jg}
- the executive at the screening uses the phrase "dynamic duo"
- the Batmobile is on display at the Auto Museum
- "Kazaam" (movie) {jg}
- mentioned at the test screening
+ "The Absent-Minded Professor" (movie)
- Professor Frink hopes rubbery (or is that "flubbery?") substance from
this movie will be in new film
+ "Booty Call" (movie)
- the "director's cut" of this film is mentioned
- "Cannonball Run" (movie) {th}
- the plane lands on a street
+ "Jerry Maguire" {th}
- Homer says, "You had me at 'hello.'"
+ Polygram Pictures {ddg}
- +Tristar Pictures (movie production houses) {tr}
- "Polystar Pictures" an amalgamation of the two
+ "Harvey" (movie) {ms}
- Homer confused the storyline of this with the 1939 "Mr. Smith Goes To
Washington"
+ "It's a Wonderful Life" (movie) {tr2}
- Homer mentioned the rabbit owned an S&L
+ George Kennedy (actor) {th}
- George Kennedy Airport is a ref to the veteran actor who appeared in
all four of the "Airport" movies
+ Paramount (movie production company) {th}
- gates of Polystar Pictures looks similar to Paramount's gates
~ "Get Shorty" (movie) {bjr}
- stars riding around in "prestigious" minivans
+ Robert Downey, Jr. (actor) {bjr}
- as the police shootout demonstrates, he is always getting into scrapes
with the law
+ Hugh Grant (actor) {bjr}
- arrested for soliciting a prostitute (ew!)
+ "Nine Months" (movie) {tr}
- place where this Hugh Grant film was made is pointed out by the guide
+ Eddie (canine actor) {tr}
- the Jack Russell Terrier from "Frasier" has apparently gotten his own
digs [{ol} notes the dog's street name is "Moose" -- Ed.]
+ Anne Heche and Ellen Degeneres (actresses and lovers) {bjr}
- couple more famous for being openly lesbian than for their actual
acting
~ "I Kissed A Girl" by Jill Sobule (music video) {al}
- something about the shot of Anne and Ellen on the porch swing reminded
me of the video
- "Mars Attacks!" (movie) {hl}
- shootout in congress
- senator impaled on American flag like Jack Nicholson
- "Boston Herald" photograph {jg}
- the paper once ran a photo in which a man demonstrating against school
busing attempted to spear a busing supported with a flag. The scene
where Mel impales the senator with an American flag is similar [The
"Comments" section of the "Treehouse of Horror VII (4F02)" capsule has
more information about this -- Ed.]
- recent shootouts at the US Capitol {jc}
- Homer managed to get an assault rifle past the metal detectors in the
redone ending
- "Die Hard With a Vengeance" (movie) {er}
- the line "with a vengeance" is used in the movie
+ the Three Stooges (like you don't know who they are) {tr}
- Mel does Curly's head-slapping and floor-spinning shtick
- [Dean Humphries notes, "If you had seen any of the Lethal Weapon
movies you would know that a running motif in them is references to
the Three Stooges." -- Ed.]
+ Marilyn Monroe (actress) {tr}
- once sung "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" to Kennedy. Compare with
Mr. Gibson saying the same thing to the movie president
- "Dirty Harry" (movie) {gb}
- Mel Gibson tossing away his badge at the end of the "Mr. Smith" remake
is similar to Clint Eastwood's tossing away his police badge at the
end of this movie
- "Life in Hell" (weekly comic) {mr}
- Homer and Mel's "finger thing" looks a lot like the gesture that Akbar
and Jeff frequently make (the little "gun-like" gesture)
+ "Saving Private Ryan" (movie)
- "Saving Irene Ryan" has a similar title. [{ddg} notes, "It's hard to
save Irene Ryan; she died in 1973."] Speaking of Ms. Ryan ...
+ "The Beverly Hillbillies" (TV series)
- ... Irene Ryan appears in "Granny" persona from this series
- also, Jethro used to pick Granny up like that and carry her sometimes
{blm}
- "She's Having a Baby" (movie) {hl}
- remake of 1988 movie now with anatomically correct movie poster
+ "Lethal Weapon 2" (movie) {hl}
- toilet bomb
+ "The Road Warrior" (movie) {tr}
- the car Gibson and the Simpsons hijack looks like Humungus' [the bad
guys' ringleader] car
+ Mann's Chinese Theater {bjr}
- "Chinese Man's Theater" a clever play on words
+ "Judge Judy" (TV personality, and series) {tr}
- Marge mistakes a man for her
+ "Braveheart" (movie) {tr}
- the Academy-Award winning movie starring Mel Gibson is referenced
several times in the episode, most noticeably in the "mooning" scene
+ Spike Lee (movie producer)
- Mel Gibson and Homer Simpson borrow Spike Lee's terminology for movie
credits: "A Spike Lee Joint"
~ "American Pie" (movie) {gb}
- Homer's reference to the "teen sex romp" movie sounds more like this
inane teen movie than the other 472 inane teen movies released in the
past couple years
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> Previous episode references
==============================================================================
- [7G13] Bart flushed a cherry bomb in the toilet {ms}
- [7F13] Confusing a movie's title with a character's name {jg}
- [7F16] Homer's well-meaning kibitzing ruins a business enterprise {bjr}
- [8F01] "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" ending parodied {bjr}
- [8F01] Episode title referenced to "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" {ms}
- [8F20], [5F19] Derisive reference to the Golden Globe awards {ol}
- [9F04] A severed head is kicked {ol}
- [9F07] Adam West/Batman is seen, and so is Batman's Batmobile {ol}
- [9F15] In the remake, Mel spins around on the table with the gun just like
Homer did
- [1F01] Simpsons meets Simpsons couch gag {ms}
- [1F19] Moose/"Eddie" the dog from "Frasier" is referenced. {ol}
- [2F01] John Travolta is seen {dj}
- [2F02] Lisa drives a car {jg}
- [2F12] Jack Valenti is mentioned {dj}
- [2F17] Hollywood satirized {bjr}
- [2F17], [4F12] A Simpson goes to Hollywood {er}
- [3F01] Homer test drives vehicle just to get free gift {hl}
- [3F16] Family meets old version of themselves {bjr}
- [4F06] The couch gag features the 1987 Simpsons family {ol}
- [4F12] "Worst episode ever" (cf. "Worst ending ever") {ms}
- [4F12] A test screening (although for TV instead of movies) is shown {bjr}
- [5F12] A car Homer drives ends up submerged in water. {ol}
- [5F15] Homer returns mistreated merchandise and runs away. {ol}
- [5F18] "Here comes two!" gag is used {dj}
- [5F19] A celebrity is apparently killed by a car {jg}
- [5F21] Grampa: "Here comes two ..." {ol}
- [AABF17] Flatulence heard {reg}
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> Freeze frame fun
==============================================================================
- Sign at the test screening {bjr}
TEST SCREENING
NO INTERNET SPIES ALLOWED
- Movie posters {bjr}
SPACE McBANE
MUTANTS VI
XII
[shadow of [McBain
mutant looms holds
behind girl] rifle]
COMING SOON
- Sign at the airport {bjr}
GEORGE
KENNEDY
AIRPORT
- Sign at Polystar gate {bjr}
NO ARTISTIC
INTEGRITY
BEYOND
THIS POINT
- Sign on tour bus {bjr}
HOLLYWOOD ["Hollywood" designed to look like famous sign]
GLAMOUR BUS
- Next to Mann's Chinese Theater {bjr}
CHINESE
MAN'S
THEATER
- At the premiere of the movie {bjr}
MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON
A GIBSON/SIMPSON JOINT
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> Animation, continuity, and other goofs
==============================================================================
* Since dolphins aren't fish, they don't float upside-down when they die.
{jk}
= At the test screening, the people in the audience seemed to "shake" as the
light from the movie flickered. {bjr}
+ Isn't the name of Ranier Wolfcastle's character "McBain," rather than
"McBane?" {ol}
- When Mel Gibson lands, OFF's house is pink. {er}
= Marge's wedding ring only appears when Homer needed to flaunt it. (Well,
rings just make you look cheap, anyway.) {bjr}
= When Homer confides in Bart ("Mel's movie really stinks"), he puts his hand
on Bart's shoulder. When Homer lifts his hand from the boy, another hand
remains planted firmly on his shoulder! {mv}
* The Hollywood and Vine sign says Vine Avenue -- but isn't it Vine Street?
{ddg}
= Homer disappears from the animation when he pops in behind Gibson as they
introduce the new ending to the producers. {th}
= The American flag Mel hurls through the senator's chest has only 12 stripes
and 45 stars. [On the other hand, it is a period film -- Ed.] {al2}
* There is no flag on the top of the Capitol dome. {th}
+ The new ending doesn't seem to be missing any sound effects like Mel says.
{al2}
* The chase was going east on Hollywood Blvd. as they passed the Vine St.
corner, and they were still going east a minute later as they passed Mann's
Chinese Theatre, which is west of Vine. {th}
==============================================================================
> Reviews
==============================================================================
Dale G. Abersold: A weak offering of recycled themes of past, superior
episode. Like many other AABF episodes, this one featured the infamous
"jerkass" Homer who is moronic and constantly angry for no apparent reason.
And like the other AABF episodes, it treats Homer as if he were the only
member of the Simpson family. (D)
Greg Bigoni: Several clever references to popular movies (especially Homer's
"Lethal Weapon" analyses) and nice self-parodying from Mel Gibson do bring
this a notch above the show's last attempt at Hollywood satire in "When You
Dish Upon A Star." Despite that, the constant barrage of celebrity
appearances that The Simpsons has adopted is starting to get very old, and
is allowing the family to drop further and further into the background.
But because it made me laugh, it gets a (B-)
Rich Bunnell: Another "Homer gets a job and meets a celebrity" plot, but not
that bad, just not spectacular. It's nice to see Dr. Nick again for a
brief second, and the "We're lesbians!" line is something which sounds
stupid on paper but is actually rip-roaringly hilarious due to its complete
randomness. Some stupid stuff (such as basically the whole chase scene and
the Travolta appearance) but a pretty solid ep by late standards. Haphazard
compared to old seasons, but ... eh ... whatcha gonna do? (B)
Ben Collins: Yet another idiotic Jerkass Homer/Celebrity Guest episode. Mel
Gibson "teams up" with Homer for absolutely no reason to embark on a
moronic project that's predictably destined for failure, "hilarity ensues,"
etc. For example, note how Homer forgets his jealousy and outright hatred
of Mel and acts like his best buddy exactly when the imbecilic plot
requires him to. I give Mike Scully credit for the fact that he can, and
has, done better than this. (D)
Nathan Mulac DeHoff: I suspect that the general opinion on this one is fairly
negative, and my personal opinion isn't much better. Most of the gags
seemed to be closer to typical cartoon fare than is (or was, anyway)
typical of the show. The jet landing in the driveway, the car chase, and
some other visual gags just didn't work that well. Most of the rest of the
episode was just random stupidity coming out of Homer's mouth. Some of it
was funny, and several of Homer's really dumb suggestions were amusing, but
this stuff couldn't carry an entire episode. I think Homer was hired as a
script consultant for this episode. (D+)
Nicolas Di Candia: Beyond Blunderdome has many of the elements that made the
show decline in the last few seasons. It's the classic "Homer gets a wacky
job and screws it" episode, packed with excessive guest star exposure. It
also has a car chase ending, which is unlikely to be found in any episode
from the first seven seasons. But it proved that these episodes can be
very funny and entertaining. I liked that they remembered to take the rest
of the family to Hollywood (although they didn't do much) and the Space
Mutants ad (first time we see the Space Mutants in years). I have high
hopes for this season and it began better than I expected. (B-)
Jordan Eisenberg: With a devilishly fast pace and the largest batch of
cultural references I've ever seen in a TV show, "Beyond Blunderdome" is
anything but boring. But the problem is that this episode nothing else to
offer ... it takes The Simpsons one step closer to being a much more astute
"Family Guy." From Homer's character to the gratuitous silliness to the
lack of any really decent plot, it seems that all lingering threads of what
The Simpsons was in its infancy are gone forever. But at least it still
offers a few belly-laughs every now and then. (B-)
Richard E. Green: Okay, I was probably too excited to finally see a NEW
episode that I couldn't think too many negative thoughts, but I was not
displeased with the season premiere. [...] Act 1 was certainly the best of
them. [...] The comic book guy appearance was the best part of the
episode, and I could really relate to him being thrown out (ever try to
bring a laptop into a theatre?) As usual, after the 1st act the show began
to fall, and I thought the entire 3rd act was going to be laughless, until
the very end with the dog. I liked the voiceover in the Gracie logo, yet
somehow saw it coming. I thought that the Mel Gibson guest star was
actually used well for once. Overall I'd give it a (B)
Tony Hill: This was a hilarious ep. The self-parody and the swipes at the
Hollywood establishment were quite funny. It was a typical ep which starts
with something completely unrelated, but as usual the show's endings are
the best on TV. It's also funny Mel Gibson was willing to go along with
all of that. (A)
Kenneth J. Huck: A pretty good episode overall, and I especially loved Homer
and Mel's "movie". However, at first I had a hard time finding the "star"
of the ep. Bart? Ha. Marge? Ha. Lisa? Double ha. Maggie? Has there
EVER been an episode starring Maggie? Homer? Close, but until about the
second act didn't do too much. Then it came to me. Mel Gibson was the
star! Now, isn't that something! A guest playing more of a role than a
regular! Anyway the only thing that keeps me from giving it a perfect A+
was it seemed to be following the "Homer the glorified buffoon" style of
episode, a type that I, personally, loathe. (B+)
Carl Johnson: I had major doubts about this one, but was extremely surprised.
I mean, effort went into this. The story had the usual AABF problems, but
that was just about all that was wrong with it. It was extremely
well-written, hilarious in places, and was, to an extent, plausible,
character-wise. The "new ending" scene in the middle of Act 2 was truly
classic material. I mean, that was "season four" hilarious. Does this
episode outshine "Lisa Gets an A", my previous vote for best AABF episode?
Probably. I'd have to see that one again, though. But, I was in a bad
mood before I watched "Beyond Blunderdome", and now I'm in high spirits
again. Good show, gov'nah! (A+)
Darrel Jones: Season Eleven's opener is a good (but not great) episode.
Loved Act One, especially the stupid shock gags (God knows why). I'm also
glad jerkass, crazy-scheme Homer finally got screwed in the end. I also
liked a few little touches, like "Chinese Man's Theater" and the
shifty-eyed dog. Points off for the "Homer and Mel run from the producers"
bit; too weird. The movie deserved its fate. (B)
Adam Long: It was pretty good. While there were some lame, non-Simpsonesque,
and repeated gags (here comes 2) there were also plenty of hilarious
moments (She's Having a Baby ... Again, Chinese Man's Theater, the CBG).
I liked Mel Gibson as well. I can't say it greatly thrilled me about the
upcoming season, but it was entertaining. I guess I expected a bit more
from the season premiere, though. (B)
Bill McNeal: I'm really getting fed up with The Simpsons at this point. I
loved the first act of last night's ep, as I got to see many of my favorite
characters (CBG: "How did you know?!"). The last two acts were
unforgivable. Why does Mike Scully assume that bigger gags and guest stars
equals better episodes? Mel Gibson? Come on! I would have been more
satisfied if Adam West (again) and Burt Ward were actually recruited for
those cameos. No one needs Mel Gibson for a laugh. I watch The Simpsons
to see Springfield residents at their best, not to see a bunch of
inconclusive jokes that I've already seen in Season Ten episodes! And do
we really need a new trip episode EVERY season? I won't even get started
on Tress MacNeille's latest disgracing of a Hollywood legend.. (C-)
Nick Orechwa: This was not an impressive episode. As hard as they tried to
make Homer funny, he just wasn't. This was also just another variation on
7F16, and a mostly unfunny variation at that. However, the episode did
have some bright points, especially Homer's version of the Film, not to
mention the whole idea of having Mel Gibson do a remake of "Mr. Smith goes
to Washington". (C)
Abhi Rey: I have to say, this episode was much, much, much better than I
thought it would be. Of course, there were the usual problems we've got in
the past 2 seasons: unsatisfying story, Homer screws up another job,
crudeness, car chases, focus on guest stars. However, there was comic
energy, like the lesbians, the clip, the dog at the end, Dr. Nick, Batman
and Robin, and many others. Homer's preference to violent and lowbrow
movies actually made sense and worked well into the story. If there's
going to be an episode that, as many people have complained, totally
disregards plot and character, this is the best episode of the kind. (C+)
Tom Rinschler: Let's see, on the plus side: a linear plot, a great couch gag,
and lots of Maggie. On the minus side: not many laughs. The plot overall
was very similar to "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson" (Homer doing
one thing while the rest of the family goes to see the sights), but there
are much better episodes to emulate. At least the rest of the family
wasn't short-changed time-wise during Homer's escapades. The storyline,
while thankfully not meandering too much, unfortunately had little humor.
Overall, a below-average effort. (C+)
Matt Rose: For the first time in memory, I couldn't have really cared less
about the season premiere. It makes me sad. For what it is these days,
this episode was pretty consistent with the Mike Scully sell-out era ...
occasional mild laughs sandwiched between guest stars invited on the
program only for the sake of adding another one to the celebrity guest
list, a lot of cartoony sight gags that didn't work and a sad exploitation
of characters that have lost most of their smart, human qualities and
become completely one-dimensional. Perhaps I wouldn't mind as much if show
had always been like this, but watching early reruns never fail to hit home
the reality that this once-great series has lost it's touch. For the
record I did enjoy a hearty chuckle at the Tracey Ullman couch gag. (C-)
Jason Rosenbaum: Two words to describe this episode: pretty good. The plot
was pretty good. The jokes were pretty good. Mel Gibson was pretty good.
The ending was pretty good (albeit predictable). Everything was pretty
good. Yep. Pretty good. (B)
Dan Touchette: I expect one joke each episode to floor me and this time it
was the Robert Downey Jr. gag. Otherwise, OFF goes to Hollywood just
didn't work this time. I don't buy Mel Gibson would follow Homer's advice
to make his movie more violent, nor did I think the new ending to "Mr.
Smith" was funny. I hope the guest stars won't drown the series this
season. (D)
Yours Truly: The show's setup looked great, but the execution tended to
emphasize the wrong things. "The Simpsons" isn't an action-oriented show
(like "Futurama" sometimes is), and "Blunderdome" would have been funnier
with more insightful spoofing of the motion-picture biz. Gibson's genial
screen presence helps, as do a few funny gags here and there, but overall
the new season is off to a slow start. (C+)
AVERAGE GRADE: C+ (2.26) Std Dev.: 1.0567 (47 reviews computed)
==============================================================================
> Comments and other observations
==============================================================================
>> Eleven -- count 'em -- eleven seasons
Ondre Lombard marks the occasion: There's something special about an eleventh
season. It's one, or two years over the average long lasting lifespan of
nine years. It seems to say there's something above average about a TV
show. Simpsons is no exception. It is now joining the ranks of such
brilliance as M*A*S*H, Cheers and other shows that reached 11+ seasons for
one reason or another (even Married ... with Children, which taught the
country to lighten up and recognize the sordid family life.) OFF would
still have gained its rightful place as an honorary long lasting TV program
that did the medium justice even if it had ended after about eight non-
shaky years, but alas, it prattled on, deciding that manufactured
"situations" were better than honest, innocent down to Earth comedy. And
while this is so unfortunate, at least it got us here to year number
eleven.
Jordan Eisenberg contributes an interesting perspective on the show's
evolution: I'll agree as much as the next guy that "The Simpsons" is no
longer the writing powerhouse it used to be; that they are most definitely
past their best years and in a decline ... but just looking at dozens of
other shows from all corners of Prime Time this season and last, in which
the driving force is either self-conscious avoidance of anything
approaching "lame-ness," obviously network- and marketing-scripted plots,
flat-out imitation of whatever else is popular, or perceived to be, or any
other negative quality you'd like to accuse the Chattering Cyclops of ...
the unabashed way in which new episodes The Simpsons flaunts themselves,
with not much of a care for anything but throwing out diverse and (IMO)
funny jokes one after another, while a huge departure from the subversive
spirit of its old self, is refreshing in TV's current state.
Not to try to generalize the entire show into a single statement, but "The
Simpsons" has become, I think, what "The Family Guy" should be. To say
this is disappointing for anyone still clinging to the old Simpsons, which
is essentially gone, and because what another show (of less cult-like
status) should be is not what Simpsons should be ... but I suggest it to
anyone out there who honestly wants to find some enjoyment out of Seasons
Eleven and Twelve.
>> Writer Watch
Javier Vera: Mike Scully is one of the best writers the show ever had,
together with Dan Greaney and the Kogen-Wolodarsky duo. His debut, "Lisa's
Rival", got many mixed reviews, yet his next script "Lisa on Ice" was
considered a classic, episode I loved due to its excellent ending. He was
also in charge of "Two Dozen and One Greyhounds" and "Marge be not Proud",
two episodes with mixed reviews. But most people consider "Team Homer" as
Scully's masterpiece in show story. He was later in charge of "Lisa's Date
With Density", the THOH short "The Homega Man" and was one of the
contributors to "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday".
>> Meta-reference corner
Don Del Grande: Homer says, "Now, in whatever year this is" -- that way, the
episode isn't dated in reruns. [{bjr} adds, " After all, doesn't it sound
weird when some character on an old sitcom says, 'Hey get with the times!
It's the 70s.'"
>> Now, shirts optional, that's another story
Tom Rinschler explains the blackboard gag: The blackboard gag presumably
refers to a recent change in business fashion. Here in the US at least, it
has become something of a tradition for businesses to have "casual
Fridays", where the employees are allowed to wear something other than
suits and other business wear. However, I would think very few businesses
would allow a "pants optional" Friday.
>> Life Imitating "The Simpsons"
Haynes Lee: Over the past summer JFK Jr. died in a private plane crash and
most recently John Travolta had engine problems mid-flight.
Also, Planet Hollywood has recently filed for bankruptcy protection.
You're more likely to find bailiffs there now instead of Hollywood stars.
>> Life influenced by "The Simpsons"
Daniel L. Dreibelbis: Just heard this on the radio -- the Ford Motor Company
has pulled its ads from the Simpsons, in protest over the fact that Homer
destroyed a car called "Electro-Taurus" in the season premiere "Beyond
Blunderdome". Ford, of course, makes the popular Taurus mid-sized car.
Sounds like Herb Powell managed to get a job on Ford's Board Of Directors:)
>> Perhaps they'd sell more if they gave away free movie tickets
Jeff Cross: The electric car was a good idea that just didn't pan out as well
as the environmentalists expected. While they don't pollute, their range is
something along the lines of a gasoline-powered car with a quarter of a
tank left. They also require special rechargers and take an entire night
to charge. The project isn't dead, though, as they are being targeted
towards "niche markets" like park rangers or people who never leave the
city.
>> What Matt Drudge does on a slow news day
Benjamin Robinson explains why internet spies aren't welcome at the movies:
The internet and the movie making process crossed paths in an unexpected
way recently. For ages, movie studios have invited audiences for test
screenings. The process works pretty much like we see demonstrated on the
show: People watch a movie, and then fill out surveys on what they did or
didn't like. The final movie is then tweaked based on what people thought.
(Or dumped to the direct-to-video market if it's really unsalvageable.)
The sudden availability of internet access has become a problem for
moviemakers. Chances are, given an audience of reasonable size, that at
least one person in the audience will later be on the internet, registering
his disgust (or delight) with the film. Producers probably don't mind if
someone gives the movie high marks, but bad reviews can quickly build a
negative buzz that sinks the film before it even opens. Since the point of
a test screening is to ferret out flaws in the film, producers would rather
people keep their mouths shut until they can work in some improvements.
"Hollywood Insider" web sites live or die on this kind of material, so the
problem isn't likely to go away soon.
Jeff Cross explains how this "beta-testing" can change the ends of movies:
JURASSIC PARK: Originally had just the two velociraptors. The T-rex was
added because they felt it was the real star of the film.
STAR TREK: GENERATIONS: Originally Kirk just fell to his death without any
real heroism.
INDEPENDENCE DAY: Originally Russell Casse was flying his biplane into the
city destroyer's cannon rather than an F/A-18.
Matt Ackeret reports: Someone gave me a flier a year or so ago for a movie
screening (it was for Species II -- by the time I called in they had
already had enough people from my demo so I didn't get to go) ... and at
the bottom they said something along the lines of "you promise not to
report to any Internet web sites"..
Ondre Lombard: Actually, the main problem with the Internet is that "nerds"
of sorts bootleg movies using screeners of new films to create MPEGs or
VCDs and distribute them throughout the Internet. I'm not sure how this is
done or if it involves sneaking into theater previews, though.
Tony Hill: I wonder if I'm one of the "Internet spies" the ep made fun of. I
attended producer David Silverman's presentation where he showed part of an
upcoming ep, and I described it in ATS the next day.
>> Don't quit your day job
Evan Ross: The two agents who where pointed out at the screening were said to
have made Shaq a star. Shaquille O'Neal is a basketball player who has
basically never made a quality film. Such of his films are "Steel",
"Kazaam", and some others which weren't even _that_ worthwhile. None of
them have been any more than box-office duds. I think he stopped making
them.
Joe Klemm adds: Shaquille O' Neal, though a good basketball player, is awful
when it comes to acting. The best proof of this was his portrayal of the
comic book superhero Steel. The film that is referred here, "Kazaam,"
features Shaq as a genie who grants three wishes to a pre-teen boy.
>> Makes you wonder about the director's cut of "Showgirls"
Tom Rinschler: The "director's cut" of a movie is usually released on video
and usually contains scenes that are too violent or risqué to be shown in
theaters. Of course, the director's cut of "Booty Call" must have lots of
violence, because it could hardly be much raunchier.
>> Leonardo DiCaprio in CASABLANCA? Are You Insane?
Jeff Cross explains Hollywood's remake-mania: From time to time Hollywood
feels it's necessary to redo a classic film with current actors and better
production budgets. Some examples include "Cruel Intentions" (a 1990s
teenager "Dangerous Liaisons"), "Independence Day" (a more modern "War Of
The Worlds"), and the Vincent Vaughn "Psycho," which tried to stay true to
the original by using the same script, camera angles, and production
schedule.
[Less-celebrated movies also get this treatment. "The Thomas Crowne
Affair" was recently redone with Rene Russo and Pierce Brosnan. Mel
Gibson's own "Payback" was also done (with a different title, but based on
the same book) in the 60's -- Ed.]
>> He may be "People's" Sexiest Man Alive, but can he stop a nuclear meltdown?
Benjamin Robinson: If you've never heard of Mel Gibson before, then welcome
to our planet! Gibson is an Australian actor who got his start in the
States when "The Road Warrior," the second of the "Mad Max" movies, became
a sleeper hit here. The film established him as an action star, and he
went on to make many others in that genre, such as the "Lethal Weapon"
series and film noir-ish "Payback."
There's more to Gibson than shooting and clever wisecracks, though, and he
has stretched into different roles in some of his recent films. Most
notable of these was "Braveheart," a film that netted him Oscars for best
picture and best director. He even starred in the title role of "Hamlet,"
the quintessential serious actors' role.
By the way, Gibson had a (not entirely true) reputation for showing his
rump in each of his films. The scene where Homer and he moon the studio
execs was probably as much a comment on this as a parody of "Braveheart."
>> Pretty good stuff, huh? Huh? Huh?
Jack Burns (who played Edward Christian in this episode) is one-half of the
Burns and Schreiber comedy team. Bill Le May tells us more about their
careers: Burns and Schreiber were a comedy team in the 60's and 70's.
They did a lot of different bits, as well as improv. A recurring schtick
for them was a taxi driver (Avery Schreiber) picking up a gabby fare (Jack
Burns). Burns would talk his ear off and at several points get into the
"Huh? - Yeah." loop, almost along the lines of "Nudge-nudge" by the Python
crew.
Burns showed up later in "Andy of Mayberry" as bumbling deputy Warren
Ferguson. Burns and Schreiber also had their own variety show in 1973.
The Internet Movie Database confirms that you heard Jack on "Wait Till Your
Father Gets Home". It also shows both of them providing voices on
Animaniacs.
Millard Isobar adds: Burns was also the announcer/MC of "Fridays", which was
ABC's short-lived version of "Saturday Night Live".
>> The fifty-cent tour
About some of the spots seen on Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie's tour of
Hollywood.
Tom Rinschler: The most infamous spot associated with Hugh Grant wouldn't be
the place where he filmed "Nine Months", but where he was caught soliciting
a prostitute.
Tony Hill: The Hollywood Brown Derby is long gone -- it wasn't shaped like a
derby -- but the original Brown Derby -- which was -- is still partially
standing. The owners tore part of it down in the middle of the night in
1981 to evade preservationists, and it's been incorporated into a strip
mall.
>> Celebrate Our Homosexuality Or Else!
Jeff Cross: The romance between Anne Heche and Ellen Degeneres has been
shoved into everybody's face ever since they came out. Ever since then, it
feels like they've been daring anybody to downgrade their relationship so
they can scream homophobe. The media also acts like they're pioneers in
this regard, despite the fact that Sandra Bernhard and Amanda Bearse had
been out long before and have played lesbian characters on "Roseanne" and
"Married With Children" respectively.
>> "But we already bought five Golden Globes!"
There's a story behind this joke, and Joe Klemm tells it: Back in the 1980's
and early 1990's, the Golden Globe Awards were considered a joke to many
film-makers. The reason: in 1982, the award for Best Female Newcomer went
to Pia Zadora for "Butterfly," which was considered an awful film. However,
the real reason why she won it was because her husband bribed the Hollywood
Foreign Press voters into voting her as Best Female Newcomer. A similar
example took place it 1993, when "Scent of a Woman," though an okay film,
ended up winning Best Drama Film against "Unforgiven."
>> "Saving Irene Ryan"
David Brunt: Irene Ryan (real name Irene Noblette) died on 26 April 1973, 18
months after "The Beverly Hillbillies" finished. She was 68 at the time of
her death, but made-up to appear even older for the show. Originally a
dancer, she appeared in many movies, primarily westerns due to her southern
accent. She made brief appearances in the original version of "Mighty Joe
Young" and "My Darling Clementine."
Tony Hill adds: Irene Ryan [...] played the grandmother on the "Beverly
Hillbillies." She became an actress at middle age, and she joined the cast
of the "Bonzo" movies only after Ronald Reagan stopped playing in them.
>> And the Oscar for most "Car Watch" references goes to ...
... this episode, according to Benjamin Robinson: The Elect-Taurus is a clone
of GM's Impact, an electric car available in limited release.
As Mr. Gibson is nice enough to say, the minivan he's driving is a Dodge
Caravan. It's pretty hard to confuse this with the Toyota Previa, which
looks kind of egg-like in comparison to the Caravan.
At the museum, we see the Munster-mobile, the Monkeemobile, and Batmobile
(all George Barris [?] creations; Barris was the king of the late-60s
customizers), Herbie the Love Bug, and one of the makeshift vehicles from
"The Road Warrior."
[{jg} spotted the Flintstones' car. {er} was the first to spot the
Munster-mobile and the Batmobile. Furthermore, he noticed the General Lee,
a 1969 Dodge Charger from "Dukes of Hazzard," was also there -- Ed.]
The executives chase Mel and Homer in a Mercedes Benz, either a C-class or
the previous-generation E-class.
Don Del Grande adds: Homer and Mel make their getaway in "The Road Warrior
Car" -- but the second "Mad Max" movie isn't called "The Road Warrior" in
some other countries, including Australia.
>> Miscellaneous, Etc.
The Haynes Lee alterna-title for this show is: Mad Max Power
Andrew Levine's alterna-alternate title: Homervan's Travels
Tony Hill: Jack Valenti is the head of the MPAA but doesn't fit the way Homer
described him. His claim to fame before that was working in the White
House for President Lyndon Johnson.
Noah Levine: Did anyone notice the scene of Mel shooting on the floor while
turning resembles Homer when happy that the Union strike is over with Mr.
Burns?"
Al Denton responds: He resembled something Homer would do because homer co-
wrote the ending.
Tom Rinschler: The first two "Godfather" films were critically acclaimed
hits. The third was a critically-bashed bomb. Hence its mention as a film
not to be emulated.
Benjamin Robinson: Homer's "whatever year this is" isn't just a joke, but a
practical way to keep from "dating" the show in syndication. After all,
doesn't it sound weird when some character on an old sitcom says, "Hey get
with the times! It's the 70s."
==============================================================================
> Quotes and Scene Summary {bjr}
==============================================================================
% Before we begin tonight's show, a word from our sponsor. The camera
% pans through shots of a city enveloped in a thick gray haze. As
% children have coughing fits while trying to play in the schoolyard, an
% announcer grimly asks, "Is this the kind of air we want to leave for
% our children?" Suddenly, a car pierces the smog, leaving the air
% clean and the sky blue. The grateful kids run up for a closer look at
% the car. Homer doesn't seem impressed at first, but the free gift in
% exchange for a test drive convinces him to make a trip to the
% dealership.
Lisa: I'm proud of you dad! Buying an electric car will help clean
the air and to protect the Earth's supply of -- you're faking
this to get the gift, aren't you?
Homer: But I like the nice things you said about me.
-- "Beyond Blunderdome"
% An unsuspecting saleswoman walks up.
Saleswoman: Thinking of saying goodbye to gas?
Bart: You betcha. [burps]
Marge: Bart! [flatulent noise] Well, that shut me up.
-- Noel Coward couldn't have done better, "Beyond Blunderdome"
% Barely able to contain his laughter, Homer tells the saleswoman that
% he's interested in purchasing one of her "electronic" cars. She
% obligingly hands him a key, and the family goes out on their test
% drive.
Marge: Boy, that quiet engine sure makes conversation a lot easier.
Homer: Yeah, it's got a lot of other problems, too.
Lisa: Look, Dad, you're heading for the harbor!
Homer: Relax, we're in an electric car.
[Homer drives off the pier, landing in the harbor. Sure
enough, the car is unfazed]
See? Everything's fine. [gasps] Dolphins!
[the dolphins swim too close to the car, and are zapped]
Oopsie.
[a group of mermaids (!) swim up]
Hi, girls!
[they meet the same fate as the dolphins]
Aw.
[the family drives up onto dry land]
[patting dash] Salt water seems to be good for it.
[car blows up, filling the interior with smoke]
-- Professional driver on closed course. Do not attempt yourself.
"Beyond Blunderdome"
% Homer returns the car to the sales office. Through the window, we
% can see the family's usual jalopy parked nearby.
Homer: Uh, I'm sorry, but the car did not meet my eco-concerns.
Can I have my prize now?
Saleswoman: Certainly. [gives Homer an envelope]
[Homer takes the envelope, runs to his car, and drives
away. In doing so, he reveals the Elec-Taurus, now in
serious need of warranty work]
What the?
Car: Help, help! It burns!
-- "Beyond Blunderdome"
% Later that night, Homer and Marge are in bed.
Marge: Hey, we never opened that envelope to see what our gift is.
Homer: We didn't? That's odd. Seems like we would've done that
right after we left the car place.
Marge: I know, but we didn't.
Homer: [holds up envelope] Well, here it is, so we can open it and
find out now.
Marge: Perfect!
Homer: [opens the envelope, and pulls out two movie tickets]
Aw, movie tickets -- that hardly seems worth destroying a
car.
Marge: They're passes to a test screening of a new movie starring
[gasps] Mel Gibson!
Homer: Who else is in it?
Marge: Who cares? Mel Gibson!
Homer: Mel Gibson is just a guy Marge, no different than me or
Lenny.
Marge: Were you or Lenny ever named Sexiest Man Alive?
Homer: Hmmm, I'm not certain about Lenny ...
Marge: Besides, it's not just his chiseled good looks. "People"
magazine says he's a devoted father, goes to church every
week, and likes to fix things around the ... Homer, let's
make love.
Homer: Uh, okay.
[the lights go out. The lights come on]
Uh, you're thinking about me, right?
Marge: Of course, Homey. Aren't you thinking about me?
Homer: I will now. [the lights go off again]
-- "Beyond Blunderdome"
% On the night of the test screening, a line forms in front of the
% theater. There's even a pre-show: Comic Book Guy and his *desktop*
% computer are bodily thrown out of the building. (Seems there's a "no
% internet spy" policy in place.) When he complains that his mouse is
% missing, it comes sailing out to join him.
%
% After the audience settles into their seats, a man in a suit comes
% onstage to address them.
Christian: Good evening, I'm Edward Christian, assistant VP of
Finance and Distribution at Polystar Pictures.
[audience cheers]
Ned: I should've brought the camera.
Christian: Also with me tonight are the dynamic duo, William Milo
and Robin Hannah, who green-lighted all of Shaquille
O'Neal's movies, including "Kazaam!"
[mixed gasps and noises of approval from the audience]
How's the popcorn, guys?
Milo +
Hannah: Needs salt! [audience laughs heartily]
-- "Beyond Blunderdome"
% Christian welcomes the audience to the test screening of Gibson's new
% movie, a remake of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." He explains that
% after the film, the audience is to write their opinion down on little
% cards that the filmmakers will provide. Back at Polystar, the cards
% will be read and the movie will be changed to suit audience opinion.%
Marge: Is Mel Gibson here?
Christian: No, sorry, but like all celebrities, he's in Hollywood
attending benefits for various diseases.
-- "Beyond Blunderdome"
% But Christian is wrong -- Mel Gibson has just sneaked quietly into
% the theater.
Gibson: Did they like it?
Milo: Well, they haven't seen it yet, Mel.
Hannah: How'd you get here from L. A. so fast?
Gibson: John Travolta flew me in his jet. Now I have to help him
move next weekend. He deliberately waited until we were in
the air to ask me.
Milo: You know, you really didn't have to make this trip, Mel. The
screening's going to go fine, believe me.
Gibson: I don't know. I think this movie was a big mistake. All I
do is talk for two hours -- I don't shoot anybody. What was
I thinking?
Hannah: You shouldn't worry about this movie. William and I both
think you're fabulous.
Milo: And I think we know a little something about the movie
business. [to Hannah] Oh, Robin, you gotta see the
director's cut of "Booty Call." It's fabulous.
Hannah: What, even better than the original? 'Cause, that was pretty
fabulous, too.
-- Uh, oh, "Beyond Blunderdome"
% We cut to Gibson's version of the stirring speech Jimmy Stewart's
% character gave near the end of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."
Homer: Boring!
Marge: It's not boring. He's passionate about government.
Homer: At least the Jimmy Stewart version had the giant rabbit who
ran the savings and loan.
-- Homer Simpson, movie critic, "Beyond Blunderdome"
% Homer is definitely in the minority, as everyone else seemed to like
% the picture. Even Mayor Quimby was impressed with Gibson's
% filibustering abilities.
Homer: Well, that was a stinker.
Marge: I liked it. It was nice to see a movie where people solved
their problems with words instead of bullets and chasing.
Homer: Oh, you're just saying that because your boyfriend was in it.
I'll bet that you would have hated it if me and Lenny was Mr.
Smith.
Marge: Will you stop acting so jealous?
-- "Beyond Blunderdome"
% Mel Gibson tries to duck into the back alley to answer nature's call,
% but he triggers the fire alarm when he opens the door. An exited
% crowd rushes up to greet him.
Gibson: Hi, everybody!
Dr. Nick: Hi, Mr. Gibson.
Gibson: Thanks for coming, folks, and don't be afraid to be
completely truthful when you fill out your opinion cards.
Honesty is the foundation of the movie business.
Moe: Uh, we'll be honest. We'd could never lie to you, Mel.
Marge: Um, will you be reading the cards yourself, Mel?
Gibson: Well, I'll be reading yours personally. [kisses her on the
hand, and growls playfully. Marge giggles and almost
hyperventilates.]
Homer: [pushes his way to the front of the crowd] That's it! I'm
telling Mr. Stupidest Man Alive what I really thought of
his movie. Hey, Gibson!
Gibson: Uh, yes, sir.
Homer: You got a pencil?
Gibson: Here you go.
Homer: [grabs pencil] Thanks. [mutters] Waste my time in front
of his stupid ... [hands pencil back] Appreciate it!
[stuffs card in Christian's coat pocket]
-- "Beyond Blunderdome"
% On the flight home, Christian, Milo, Hannah, and Gibson go over the
% opinion cards. They're all rave reviews. All, that is, but one.
Gibson: [reading from card] Your movie is more boring than
church. All you did was yak, yak, yak. You didn't even
shoot anybody -- Damn! I knew it!
Christian: Aw, don't do this to yourself, Mel. The guy's obviously
a nut.
Gibson: Maybe. Maybe he's the only person with the guts to tell
me the truth.
-- Nah, I'd go with that first answer, "Beyond Blunderdome"
% Gibson goes to the cockpit, and tells John Travolta to divert to 742
% Evergreen Terrace. Travolta is kind of ticked, since Gibson did help
% him to move, but turns the plane around.
%
% [End of Act One. Time: 7:34]
%
% At the Simpson home, a plane roars overhead, passing so close that
% the sounds jostles Maggie around on the couch. It subsides, and then
% the doorbell rings. Marge opens it, and is surprised to see Mel
% Gibson.
Gibson: I'm looking for [reads card] Homer Simpson.
Homer: And I've been looking for you too, pal.
Bart: Pound him, dad!
Lisa: Bart, don't!
Bart: Quiet! Dad's going to get his butt kicked by Mel
Gibson. Knock his teeth out, Homer!
Homer: Listen, Gibson. I'm tired of Hollywood pretty-boys like
you and Jack Valente thinking you can have any woman you
want. You see this? [holds up Marge's hand, to permit
close inspection of Marge's wedding ring] It symbolizes
that she's my property, and I own her.
Gibson: Mr. Simpson, I need your help.
Homer: Duh?
Gibson: I think you're right about my movie, and I want you to
help me make it better.
Homer: Really? You want my help? Marge, did you hear that?
Mel Gibson wants my help. Mel Gibson!
Lisa: Dad, I thought you hated ...
Homer: [interrupting] Shut up.
Marge: Homer doesn't know anything about making movies.
Gibson: Don't sell your husband short, Mrs. Simpson.
Homer: She's always doing that, Mel.
Marge: Mmmm.
Gibson: Homer is a brutally honest man. Completely tactless and
insensitive.
Homer: Hee, hee. Guilty as charged.
Gibson: The problem I have is people love me so much, they never
criticize me. I speed all the time but the cops never
give me a ticket. If I don't pay my taxes, the IRS pays
them for me.
Marge: [sympathetic] Oh, you poor thing.
Gibson: It's hell being Mel.
[outside, the plane honks]
Travolta: C'mon, geez!
Gibson: I don't have much time, Homer. Will you come to
Hollywood with me?
Homer: You had me at, "hello."
Gibson: I didn't say, "hello."
-- Hello? "Beyond Blunderdome"
% Soon the family is winging its way to Tinseltown.
Marge: Hollywood, here we come!
[the plane lands in L. A.]
Hollywood, here we are!
Lisa: Stop doing that, mom.
-- "Beyond Blunderdome"
% Gibson personally drives the Simpsons to Polystar Pictures. Homer is
% thoroughly impressed with Gibson's wheels: A Dodge Caravan, the
% Cadillac of minivans. (No, wait. That was the Oldsmobile Silhouette.
% Never mind.)
Marge: Look, they're making a movie! Robert Downey, Jr. is shooting
it out with the police.
[cut to see a squadron of cops shooting it out with Downey]
Bart: I don't see any cameras.
-- "Beyond Blunderdome"
% Homer gives Marge and the kids some money, and tells them to go see
% the sights while he and Gibson work on the movie. Bart wants to come
% watch, but Homer says there's too much work to do. ("Mel's movie
% really stinks," he says in a whisper loud enough for Gibson to hear.)
%
% Gibson doesn't think Homer's suggestions to improve the movie are
% much better. Homer suggests upping the humor quotient by running
% several scenes in fast motion. Nah. A musical montage where Gibson
% wears funny hats would bring out Gibson's playful side, Homer
% suggests. Nix to that, too.
%
% Meanwhile, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie take a bus tour of
% Hollywood.
Guide: Uh, for those of you who always wanted to see the famous
Brown Derby restaurant ...
Marge: Ooh!
Guide: ... that's where it used to be. [indicated a vacant lot with
several drifters milling about]
Marge: [disappointed] Oh.
Guide: And on your left is the notorious spot where Hugh Grant ...
Marge Ew.
Guide: ... filmed the movie, "Nine Months."
Marge: Eww!
-- "Beyond Blunderdome"
% Back in the notorious spot where Homer pitched movie improvement
% suggestions to Mel Gibson ...
Gibson: You want me to replace the villain with a dog? I mean nobody
will know what's going on.
Homer: They will if you set up that the dog is evil. All you do is
have to show him doing this. [lowers eyelids and glances
around in shifty-eyed fashion]
The people will suspect the dog.
Gibson: Maybe this wasn't a good idea, Homer. I'm sorry I dragged
you out here. Let me pay your bus fare home.
Homer: Uh, uh, uh. Now here's your biggest problem of all.
Gibson: The filibuster scene? That was Jimmy Stewart's favorite.
Homer: And it was fine for the 1930s; the country was doing great
back then. Everyone was into talking. But now, in whatever
year this is, the audience wants action. And seats with
beverage holders. But mainly action.
Gibson: You really think it's boring?
Homer: Oh, Mel, it's the most boring piece of garbage I've ever
seen. And it's not easy for me to say that.
Gibson: Hmm. I guess it is a little flat. Okay, let's reshoot the
ending. I'll call the hair and makeup ladies, and you see if
the Teamsters will work for free.
Homer: Piece of cake. Now where's that kid with my latte?
-- "Beyond Blunderdome"
% Marge and the kids have moved on to a walking tour. Using a map, she
% points out the house belonging to the dog from "Frasier," which is
% across the street from where Ellen Degeneres and Anne Heche live.
%
% That next day, Mel and Homer prepare to show the new, improved "Mr.
% Smith Goes to Washington." As it begins, Gibson, as Mr. Smith, is
% nearing the end of his filibuster speech.
Gibson: Well, I'm not licked. I'm going to stay here and fight for
this lost cause. Somebody will listen to me. Somebody will
... [collapses on the floor[
Payne: I believe the Senator has yielded the floor.
Gibson: [wakes up] Yield this, Senator Payne.
[throws an American flag like a javelin, striking Payne. He
falls on his desk, the flagpole now standing upright]
-- "Beyond Blunderdome"
% Gibson grabs two other senators and slams their heads inside two
% desks.
Gibson: I move, we impose some serious term limits.
Homer: [from the press gallery] I second that motion. [holds up a
rifle] With a vengeance! [tosses rifle to Gibson]
-- Why didn't Jimmy Stewart think of this? "Beyond Blunderdome"
% Catching the rifle, Gibson jumps up on a table and quips, "All in
% favor, say die." Then, spinning around on a table like Curly, the
% guns down most of the senators. The Senate leader complains that
% Gibson's actions are "highly unorthodox," and pounds a gavel. Gibson
% throws a fire extinguisher under the gavel, and when the leader hits
% it, it explodes. The explosion fills the building with smoke, and
% sends the statue on top of the Capitol Dome into the river.
%
% Just then, an aristocratic man storms in and identifies himself as
% the President of the United States. He demands to know what all the
% commotion is about. Gibson rips the National Seal down from the wall,
% and tosses it at the President, slicing off his head. The head lands
% at Gibson's feet. He picks it up and grimly says, "Happy birthday,
% Mr. President." A crowd of happy schoolchildren bursts in and carries
% Gibson off, cheering. Gibson takes his badge, and throws it into the
% dead Payne's hand. Payne's hand clutches it, and then relaxes. The
% lettering on the badge is changed to, "The End."
%
% The lights come up in the screening room.
Gibson: Pretty cool, huh?
Christian: You, uh, you chopped off the President's head.
Gibson: Bet you didn't see that coming.
Hannah: You impaled a United States Senator with the American
flag.
Milo: Why did Mr. Smith kill everybody?
Homer: It was symbolism. He was mad.
Christian: But this was going to be the studio's prestige picture,
like "Howard's End" or "Sophie's Choice."
Homer: Ugh. Those movies sucked. I only saw them to get Marge
into the sack. [sotto voce] P. S.: Mission
accomplished. [high-fives Gibson]
Christian: But we already bought five Golden Globe awards.
Gibson: I don't make movies to win awards. [holds up two Oscar
statuettes; speaks in sotto voce] Especially now that I
have two Oscars. [normal voice] I make movies for guys
like him.
Homer: Yeah, guys like me.
Christian: Who are you, anyway?
Homer: Do the words Executive Producer mean anything to you?
Gibson: Executive Producer?
Homer: We'll talk.
Christian: [takes film off the projector] You desecrated a classic
film. This is worse than "Godfather III."
Gibson: Whoa, whoa, hey, whoa! Let's not say things we can't
take back.
Christian: All right, all right, I'm sorry. But this film is never
going to see the light of day. [takes a lighter to the
film, intending to set it aflame]
[Gibson and Homer gasp]
Gibson: [pointing out the window] Look -- they're towing away a
Range Rover.
[Christian, Milo, and Hannah run to the window to look]
Hannah: There's no --
Gibson: [grabbing film] Yoink! C'mon Homer, we've got a movie
to premiere.
Homer: Woo hoo! [Gibson and Homer beat a hasty retreat]
Christian: We've got to get that film back or we're all going to
get fired, you know what I mean?
Milo: Yeah.
Christian: Huh?
Milo: Yeah.
Christian: Huh?
Milo: Yeah.
Christian: Huh?
Milo: Fired.
-- Another typical Hollywood screening, "Beyond Blunderdome"
% The executives give chase.
%
% [End of Act Two. Time: 14:49]
%
% The motor chase leads through the filming of the new McBain film,
% "Saving Irene Ryan."
Ryan: [slung over McBain's shoulder] You put me down, you big
lummox! Jed!
McBain: Shut up, old lady! And stop kicking me there!
-- Coming soon to a theater near you, "Beyond Blunderdome"
% Gibson and Homer are forced to abandon their vehicle when they run
% into land mines, however. They take refuge in a building. The
% executives' car pulls into view.
Homer: Aw, crap! Here they come.
Gibson: Well that's it, Homer. We should have known better than to
match wits with studio executives.
-- They're a pretty smart bunch, "Beyond Blunderdome"
% It turns out that Homer and Gibson are hiding out in a museum of
% Hollywood memorabilia. In one of those movie-like coincidences, it is
% the same museum that Marge and the kids are touring. Bart admires the
% surprisingly lifelike dummies of Batman and Robin sitting in the
% original Batmobile.
Bart: Wow, these dummies look pretty good.
Batman: Well, I've had a lot of surgery, old chum.
Robin: Shh. Mr. Amato's going to fire us if you don't stop
bothering the customers.
[Homer and Gibson run up]
Marge: Homer, what are you doing here?
Homer: No time talk -- need steal car. Must save powerful but
controversial picture.
[looks around furtively, until he sees one of the "Mad Max"
cars]
Quick, Mel, get in!
Gibson: [sighs] Forget it, Homer. Let's just give them the stupid
movie.
Homer: Movies aren't stupid. They fill us with romance and hatred
and revenge fantasies. "Lethal Weapon" showed us that
suicide is funny.
Gibson: That really wasn't my intention.
Homer: Before "Lethal Weapon 2" I didn't know there could be a bomb
in my toilet, but now I check every time.
Marge: It's true, he does.
Gibson: Do movies mean that much to you, Homer?
Homer: They're my only escape from the drudgery of work and family.
[to family] No offense.
Gibson: Aw, what the heck. Let's hit the road. Shove over, junior.
[pushes aside Mad Max dummy sitting in the "Mad Max" car]
[starts the car and barrels through the wall of the museum]
Batman: That thoughtless destruction will surely bankrupt the museum,
old chum.
Robin: Shut up.
-- "Beyond Blunderdome"
% The executives close in. Gibson tells Lisa -- and he is insistent
% that it is Lisa -- to take the wheel. The next thing we see is Gibson
% leap off the car. He bounces off the executives' car and lands on the
% pavement, where several more cars run over him.
%
% Christian, who was driving, immediately concocts an alibi. ("You all
% saw it -- he came at me with a knife, right?") The excuse isn't
% needed, for the "body" that was run over was just the dummy Mel from
% the museum. The execs resume the chase.
%
% Homer abruptly stops the "Mad Max" car, and announces that it's time
% they made a stand. We switch back to the executives' point of view as
% they drive down the street to see ... Gibson and Homer mooning them.
Milo: Who the heck is that?
Hannah: Well, the one on the left is Mel Gibson. I don't know who
the other two guys are.
-- "Beyond Blunderdome"
% Gibson is having second thoughts about this strategy.
Gibson: Will you please tell me the rest of the plan?
Homer: It was your plan, from "Braveheart." Your army mooned the
enemy until they could take no more and surrendered.
Gibson: No! They didn't! They attacked us in a horribly bloody
battle. Remember?
Homer: Actually, I didn't see it, but on the poster it --
Gibson: [interrupting] Jump!
[Gibson leaps out of the way, but Homer is struck square in
the rump]
Homer, are you okay?
Homer: I think so. [walks a few steps, dragging the car along with
him] No.
-- "Beyond Blunderdome"
% The executives have apparently relented, because the movie -- revised
% ending and all -- is released to the public. The reaction confirms
% the studio's worst fears. Not only did the audience hate it, but
% Jimmy Stewart's granddaughter threatens to sue. Homer regrets not
% including the shifty-eyed dog.
%
% Outside the theater, Gibson and Homer try to recover from the
% evening's debacle.
Homer: Aw, I'm sorry I ruined your career, Mel.
Gibson: It's not your fault, Homer. I guess there's no room in
today's crazy, gentle America for violent dinosaurs like us.
Homer: How did the country lose its way, Mel? When did we stop
rooting for the man with a flame-thrower or an acid-spraying
gun of some kind?
Gibson: I blame the internet. And the return of swing music.
Homer: Well, whatever it is, we gotta get rolling on our next
picture. Hey, what about a prequel of something? Everybody
loves prequels.
Gibson: I don't.
Homer: [exasperated sigh] Okay, Mr. Difficult. How about a teen sex
romp, where you and your buddies are always trying to get
some. No, wait! A ghost who wins the lottery. [Mel and
Homer get into a waiting limousine] You can be the ghost, or
the lottery commissioner.
[the limo drives off]
Ooh! What about Indiana Jones? Does anyone own the rights
to that?
[the limo door opens, and Homer is tossed onto the street]
Hey Mel! I fell out!
-- "Beyond Blunderdome"
% The camera pans back to the theater. A lone dog with an evil, shifty-
% eyed, expression sits in front of the building. Hmmm ... perhaps this
% was his doing all along. The screen fades to black, and we hear a
% howl.
%
% The End, at least until the sequel.
%
% [End of Act Three. Time: 20:28]
%
% The closing sound bite is Gibson's Curly-like, "Woo woo woo!"
==============================================================================
> Contributors
==============================================================================
{ah} Alan Hamilton
{al} Andrew Levine
{al2} Adam Long
{bjr} Benjamin Robinson
{blm} Bill Le May
{ddg} Don Del Grande
{dj} Darrel Jones
{er} Evan Ross
{gb} Greg Bigoni
{hl} Haynes Lee
{jc} Jeff Cross
{jg} Joe Green
{jk} Joe Klemm
{mr} Matt Rose
{ms} Mike Smith
{mv} Marijke Verdonck
{ol} Ondre Lombard
{reg} Richard E. Green
{sa} Shaun Aki
{th} Tony Hill
{tr} Tom Rinschler
{tr2} Tom R.
==============================================================================
> Legal Mumbo Jumbo
==============================================================================
This episode capsule is Copyright 2000 Benjamin Robinson. It is not to be
redistributed in a public forum without consent from its author or current
maintainer (capsules@snpp.com). All quoted material and episode summaries
remain property of The Simpsons, Copyright of Twentieth Century Fox. All
other contributions remain the properties of their respective authors. The
Quote and Scene Summary is Copyright 1999 Benjamin Robinson. This capsule has
been brought to you by Polystar Pictures.
This work is dedicated to Raymond Chen, James A. Cherry, Ricardo Lafaurie,
Frederic Briere, and all of those who made episode capsules what they are
today.
Thanks to Don Del Grande for providing credit information in his post, as I
would not have had it available otherwise.